Parlor Table (?) #1: Getting to Know You...

My shop has become somewhat of a magnet for these types of ‘projects.’ My wife’s nephew ran across this table and dropped it off at my shop door; it was waiting for me when I got home from work last Thursday.

Not a high-craftsmanship piece at all. Joinery consists of half-laps and cut miters, along with a generous use of headed nails. Aprons quite thin as well, with evidence of the top being nailed to the base of this thing (!). Oh, and no parts of said top came with the table.

Interesting bead detail, though, that was once painted red. Think it was a #45 that did it, or #66 beader, or ??

No plans other than to hold onto it awhile and complete a few other projects currently in-work. But thought I’d send it up for review in the meantime. Thanks for looking!

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive

31 comments so far

Without a doubt you’ll bring it back better than before but its gonna take some work Smitty. There’s some glaring issues with the “joinery” obviously but a new top, some glue, and some love might make for an interestingly rustic table. Sans the tapered legs and beading I think I would have strolled right past it.

I gotta admit that your blogs on pieces like this have given me something new to look for at tag sales and flea markets.

I was gonna say I must have a little smitty in me but that sounds too weird. ;)

-- "there aren’t many hand tools as awe-inspiring as the #8 jointer. I mean, it just reeks of cast iron heft and hubris" - Smitty

I’ve been burned with the ‘looks like walnut’ determination before, so I won’t say walnut because it’s slightly off from that. Pic 3 above has a mahogany look to it. I haven’t even pulled it onto the bench to take a clear look under decent lighting, so I won’t guess just yet. A hit with a green pad inside an apron should tell me more.

-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive

The top was probably the best part of it and was salvaged. ;-)Your nephew is like us, he has an infinite faith in your capacity.

A complete rebuild seems necessary.Disassembling, turning the legs in such a way that the nail holes are Inside, remake the joinery with haunched tenons on the rails and mortises in the legs; using the back face as a new front and finding a board to make a new back.The drawer seems usable.But I am sure you will probably find other ways.

-- Sylvain, Brussels, Belgium, Europe - The more I learn, the more there is to learn

I guess the question is: is the form aesthetically pleasing in its current condition. If so, then do what you can with it. If not, I think Sylvain is dead on. The table may end up smaller but, so what, if it ends up totally, friggin awesome.

But what the hell do I know?

-- It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe. - Muhammad Ali